Why vote in today’s municipal elections?

By The Daily News

Published: Monday, November 4, 2013 at 06:33 PM.

What are the pressing issues in your neighborhood? How about among your friends and colleagues at work?

Is it the Onslow County school-bond issue or government spending in general? Did your town raise taxes last year? Did a town board turn down or approve a new development and you found the decision, in one way or another, appalling? Could it even be about trash pickup? Rezoning?

These are issues that drive local governments. Congress can fritter away time in endless gridlock; but the problems that people confront every day are often before their city or town councils and boards. These local boards make decisions that impact life in neighborhoods every month.

If you don’t like it, then today is your turn to do something about it.

Election Day is today and a number of seats for city and town councils or boards of alderman — are in play. While some are uncontested races, many are; and everyone in the county should plan on voting “for” or “against” the Onslow County school bond.

But don’t overlook those races where candidates face no opposition. In fact, the argument could be made that voting in uncontested races — especially in smaller communities — is essential if not more important.

What are the pressing issues in your neighborhood? How about among your friends and colleagues at work?

Is it the Onslow County school-bond issue or government spending in general? Did your town raise taxes last year? Did a town board turn down or approve a new development and you found the decision, in one way or another, appalling? Could it even be about trash pickup? Rezoning?

These are issues that drive local governments. Congress can fritter away time in endless gridlock; but the problems that people confront every day are often before their city or town councils and boards. These local boards make decisions that impact life in neighborhoods every month.

If you don’t like it, then today is your turn to do something about it.

Election Day is today and a number of seats for city and town councils or boards of alderman — are in play. While some are uncontested races, many are; and everyone in the county should plan on voting “for” or “against” the Onslow County school bond.

But don’t overlook those races where candidates face no opposition. In fact, the argument could be made that voting in uncontested races — especially in smaller communities — is essential if not more important.

Why?

In non-partisan elections the turnout is much smaller and with smaller turnouts, the chances are greater for upsets from write-in candidates.

Off-year municipal elections are the true test of our adherence to the principles that our country was founded upon. It’s easy to draw voters to the polls to cast ballots for president or even governor.

Thousands storm the polls in presidential election years, battling long lines even during the early voting period. But even so, it’s good to remember that a president may never set foot in Swansboro, Holly Ridge or Richlands. Even a U.S. senator or the governor is a longshot.

The bottom line in our community — and this probably isn’t different from any other city or town in America — is that far too few people will be making decisions for the rest of us on Election Day.

Don’t turn a blind eye. Exercise your right to vote. If you don’t, someone else will. And you may not like who or what they vote for.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to vote in municipal races. For more information, contact the Onslow County Board of Elections at 910-455-4484; the Carteret County board at 252-728-8460; Jones County board at 252‑448‑3921; or the Duplin County board at 910-296-2170